RochLista [HISTOLOGY]

CHAPTER 6
CONNECTIVE TISSUE

• Mesoderm: embryonic germ layer, chromatin and

gives rise to almost all connective prominent nucleolus.
tissues of the body b. Quiescent Fibroblasts –
• Originate from the mesenchyme – Fibrocyte
small, spindle shaped cells of relatively o Smaller and usually
uniform apperance spindle-shaped with
• Mesenchymal Cells: characterized by fewer processes
oval nuclei with prominent nucleoli o Has smaller, darker,
and fine chromatin and elongated nucleus
o possess many thin cytoplasmic o More acidophilic
processes cytoplasm
o immersed in an abundant and NOTE:
viscous extracellular substance • Fibroblasts are targets of various
containing few fibers. growth factors that influence cell
growth and differentiation.
Structurally formed by 3 classes of
components: Adipocyte
a. Cells • “Adeps” – fat; “kytos” – cell
b. Fibers • Fat cells
c. Ground substance – a highly • Connective tissue cells that have
hydrophilic, viscous complex of anionic become specialized for storage of
macromolecules and multiadhesives neutral fats or for the production of
glycoproteins that stabilizes the ECM heat.
by binding to receptor proteins on the
surface of the cell. Macrophage and the Mononuclear Phagocyte
system
Extracellular Matrix • Characterized by an irregular surface
• major constituent of connective tissue. with pleats, protrusions, and
• Consist of different combinations of indentations.
protein fibers and ground substance. • Referred to as Histocytes
• Macrophage produce monocytes
Fibroblasts which circulate in the blood.
• Most common cells in connective • Distributed throughout the body and
tissue. are present in most organs.
• Synthesize collagen, elastin, • Highly important for the up-take,
glycosaminoglycan, proteoglycans, and processing, and presentation of
multiadhesive glycoprotein. antigens for lymphocyte activation.
• 2 Stages of Activity: • A typical macrophage measures
a. Active fibroblasts - Fibroblast between 10 and 30 μm in diameter
o Has abundant and and has an oval or kidney-shaped
irregularly branched nucleus located eccentrically.
cytoplasm • Macrophage-like cells have been given
o Ovoid, large, and pale- different organs:
staining, with fine o Kupffer cells – Liver
o Microglial cells – CNS
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o Langerhans cells – Skin
o Osteoclasts – Bone tissue
Mast Cells
• Large, oval or round connective tissue
cells, 20 – 30 μm in diameter, whose
cytoplasm is filled with basophilic
secretory granules.
• Small, spherical, and centrally-located
nucleus.
• Display metachromasia – due to high
content of acidic radicals in their
sulfated glycosaminoglycans.
Plasma Cells
• Large, ovoid cells that have a
basophilic cytoplasm due to their
richness in rough ER.
• The nucleus is generally spherical but
eccentrically placed.
• Their average lifespan is short – 10 to
20 days.
Leukocytes
• Migrate from blood vessels by
diapedesis
o process of migrating between
the endothelial cells lining
capillaries and postcapillary
venules to enter the
connective tissue.
• Do NOT return to the blood after
arriving in connective tissue EXCEPT
for the LYMPHOCYTES.
3 Main types of Connective Tissue Fibers
1. Collagen Fibers
o Most abundant protein in the
human body --- 30% of its dry
weight.
o Produced by several cell types
and distinguishable by their
molecular compositions,
morphologic characteristics,
distribution, functions, and
pathologies.
o Forming bundles of tough,
flexible fibers that resist
stretching.
2. Reticular Fibers
o Consist mainly of collagen type
III, which forms extensive
networks of extremely thin
and heavily glycosylated fibers
in certain organs.
o Argyrophilic: affinity for silver
salts.
o Periodic acid-Schiff (PAS):
positive due to high sugar
content (6 – 12% hexoses).
3. Elastic Fibers
o Thinner and form sparse
networks interspersed with
collagen bundles in many
organs subject to much bending
or stretching.
o Elastic fibers develop through
successive stages:
o Elastic Lamellae: this are
fenestrated sheets found in the
walls of large blood vessels.
o Elastin molecules are rich in
glycine and proline, and
contains two unusual amino
acids --- desmosine and
isodesmosine.
Ground Substance
• Shapeless background against which
cells and collagen fibers are seen in the
light microscope.
• Highly hydrated, transparent, complex
mixture of macromolecules:
• Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs):
Mucopolysaccharides
o Glucosamine or Galactosamine
o Glucoronic or Iduronic acid
o Hyaluronic acid – largest and
most unique
• Four main GAGs found in
proteoglycans:
a. Dermatan sulfate
b. Chondroitin sulfate
c. Keratan sulfate
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d. Heparan sulfate • Has a fewer cells and a clear

• Proteoglycans: composed of core predominance of collagen fibers over
protein covalently attached to various ground substance.
combinations of GAGs.
o Aggrecan – dominant proteoglycan 4 Major Subcategories of Dense Connective
in cartilage. Tissue
o Syndecan – cell-surface I. Dense Regular Collagenous
proteoglycan found in epithelial Connective Tissue
cells. o has extracellular matrix
o Multiadhesive glycoprotein – have consisting mostly of collagen
carbohydrates attached with fibers.
predominant protein moiety. o oriented predominantly in one
 Fibronectin direction
 Laminin o Able to withstand great pulling
 Integrins forces and resists stretch in
 Talin the direction of their
 Vinculin orientation.
• TEM: Aggregates and precipitates in o Locations: Tendon, nonelastic
tissues as granular material that is ligaments, dermis of the skin,
electron-dense filaments or granules. and organ capsules.
o Example: tendons – muscle to
2 General Classes of Connective Tissue Proper bone
1. Loose Connective Tissue
• AREOLAR TISSUE II. Dense Irregular Collagenous
• Very common type CT that supports Connective Tissue
many structures subjected to some o composed of collagen fibers
pressure and low friction. that run in all-directions or in
• Has extracellular matrix consisting alternating planes of fibers
mostly of collagen and few elastic oriented in a somewhat single
fibers. direction
• Loose packing and support for the o Tensile strength capable of
structures. withstanding stretching in all
• Fibroblasts: responsible for the directions.
production of the fibers of the matrix. o Locations: Sheaths, most of
o Most common cell found in the dermis of the skin, organ
Loose CT. capsules and septa; outer
• Location: Widely distributed covering of the body tubes.
throughout the body --- layer of o Example: aponeuroses – broad
dermis, hypodermis, and lining of the sheets
peritoneal and pleura cavities
III. Dense Regular Elastic Connective
2. Dense Connective Tissue Tissue
• Has extracellular matrix that consists o consists of parallel bundles of
of densely packed fibers. collagen fibers and abundant
• Adapted to offer resistance and elastic fibers.
protection. o Capable of stretching and
recoiling like a rubber band,
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with strength in the direction

of fiber-orientation.
o Locations: Vocal folds, elastic
ligaments between the
vertebrae and along the dorsal
aspect of the neck.

IV. Dense Irregular Elastic Connective

Tissue
o composed of bundles and
sheets of collagenous and
abundant elastic fibers
oriented in multiple directions.
o Capable of strength with
stretching and recoil in several
directions.
o Location: Elastic arteries

Specialized Types of Connective Tissue

1. Reticular Tissue
• Specialized CT consists of
reticular fibers of type III
collagen produced by
specialized fibroblasts
(reticular cells).
• Creates a sponge-like structure
within which cells and fluids
are freely mobile.
• Provide the architectural
framework that creates special
microenvironments for
hematopoietic organs and
lymphoid organs.
2. Mucous Connective Tissue
• Found mainly in the umbilical
cord and fetal tissues.
• Has an abundance of ground
substance composed mainly of
hyaluronic acid --- making it
jellylike tissue containing very
few collagen fibers with
scattered fibroblast.
• Principal component of
umbilical cord --- Wharton’s
Jelly